AL HURRICANE HONORS
Ailing singer expected to be at May 7 concert
Tribute concert, possible renaming of Civic Plaza stage for the N.M. music icon announced.
City and county officials announced on Sunday plans for an Al Hurricane tribute concert next month, to take place days after city councilors consider a resolution to rename the Civic Plaza stage in his honor.
“Memphis, Tennessee, has the king — They’ve got Elvis,” City Councilor Ken Sanchez said at a news conference Sunday. “We’ve got the godfather — Al Hurricane.”
Hurricane’s sons said their father, who is battling cancer, plans to attend the concert. They said Hurricane — a New Mexico music icon— was excited at the news of both the concert and the proposal to rename the stage. Hurricane for more than 60 years performed music locally and around the world and has performed along side famous musicians, including Fats Domino, Marvin Gaye and Chuck Berry, according to the announcement of the concert.
“This will be a long lasting legacy, it’s going to be here forever — Al Hurricane pavilion,” Al Hurricane Jr. said after the new conference Sunday afternoon.
The possible rename comes as the downtown plaza is undergoing a $4 million facelift, expected to be completed in November.
“Having this pavilion, the Civic Plaza pavilion, named after Al Hurricane is really going to be more beautiful than the $4 million renovation,” José García, general manager of the Albuquerque Convention Center said.
The free concert is scheduled for May 7 from 2-5 p.m. Artists include Al Hurricane Jr, Tiny Morrie, Baby Gaby, Jerry Dean, Ernest Montoya, Darren Cordova, Erika, Matthew Martinez, Christian, Dezi Cisneros and Fat City.
In addition to the concert, the day’s events will also include a free USA Boxing tournament, featuring amateur fighters from around the Southwest, beginning at noon.